The Ghost Downstairs by Molly Ringle

After making a fatal mistake on the job, Lina Zuendel seeks shelter in a Seattle assisted-living facility as their live-in nurse. But peace is not what she finds. She soon hears tales of ghosts haunting the house, and of two tragic deaths that took place in the 1930s. Unexplained events send her to ask questions of the handsome resident houseboy.

Ren Schultz, a seemingly young live-in houseboy, tries to avoid his growing attraction to the new nurse. His secrets are too dangerous to share, no matter how lonely he has become. But Lina is persistent, and soon uncovers dark truths that no one else has dared to face.

As their attraction grows, so does the intensity of the paranormal activity. Can their love survive the mysteries that lurk in the old sorority house?

Lina Zuendel knows there is something strange about Ren Schultz and the assisted living facility where they both work. Despite the mystery surrounding him, Lina can’t help but feel attracted to Ren, but once she starts digging into the past, will she be able to handle what she discovers?

Lina’s life is full of regrets, but making a tragic mistake at Everglade Hospital tops them all. This prompts Lina to decide she needs a change of scenery. When she reads an ad in the newspaper for a live-in nurse at an assisted living facility called Drake House, it seems like the perfect opportunity to tend her bruised spirit.

Lina falls in love with Drake House immediately. The staff and residents are equally charming, and soon Lina begins to hope she’ll find the peace that’s eluded her for so long. Unfortunately, there is much more to Drake House then meets the eye. It seems that the building is haunted by a ghost. After being assured that the ghost is harmless, Lina decides to stay at Drake House.

Curiosity about the ghost and the history of Drake House leads Lina to Ren, the handsome houseboy, but it seems that Ren has some dark secrets of his own. Though Lina and Ren try to deny their growing attraction, the soon realize they’ve fallen in love. As their relationship intensifies, the ghost at Drake House becomes increasingly active and more violent. It seems the ghost might not be so harmless after all.

I thought Ms. Ringle created a great heroine in Lina Zuendel. She is one of the most down-to-earth characters I’ve read about in a long time. Sure Lina has made some mistakes (haven’t we all), but she’s also smart, thoughtful and caring. Lina is so relatable that it was easy to empathize with her.

As a hero, Ren was also very likable. He genuinely cares about the residents at Drake House, he’s handsome, and a great cook. What more could a woman want? I soon suspected what Ren’s secret was, but I enjoyed watching Lina discover more about him as their romance blossomed.

The Ghost Downstairs literally kept me on the edge of my seat. Not only was the supernatural activity truly spine-tingling, but I was constantly kept guessing at how Lina and Ren were ever going to find their happily ever after. Anyone who enjoys a moving romance with tons of suspense needs to get a copy of The Ghost Downstairs today.

RATING EXPLANATION:

1 Star— At this time, we at LASR do not post these reviews. If the book was boring, badly edited, poorly written, had little or no plot, stilted dialogue, and/or unsympathetic characters, we will decline the review.

2 Stars— Not wonderful, but tolerable. There may be some minor editing glitches but not enough to stop you reading. Not a wall-banger, but nothing you'd re-read. This is a book you would borrow from the library - not buy - and never check out again.

3 Stars— Good. Mostly enjoyable. You made it through and didn't consider it a waste of time or money. The story was strong enough or the conflict tight enough, so even when the book faltered, it was able to draw you back in and keep you. There's a chance you'll recommend it to a friend, but it wouldn't go on your keeper shelf.

4 Stars— Very Good. You're glad you were the one who got to review the book. You would probably buy it and would definitely recommend it to your friends. You liked the characters and the plot. The writing style was good and the editing clean.

5 Stars— Great! You would definitely buy this book. You would definitely recommend it to your friends. You really loved the characters and the plot and would consider looking for this authors back list or making her an autobuy. The writing and editing were superb.

LASR Best Book - For a book or story that is truly exceptional. You think about it when you're not reading it. You wonder what happens to the characters when you finish. You would absolutely buy everything else this author had to offer. The highest praise - and reserved for only a few.

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